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Holidays in New York

Holidays in New York: Offbeat To-Do's

December 17, 2007 at 9:45 AM | 0 Comments

With around a week to go until Christmas hits New York, the city's packed with tourists and shoppers to take it all in. Sometimes we revel in all the action--catching a cute proposal on the ice rink at Rock Center was pretty heartwarming!--and sometimes it makes us want to pull our hair out. (Tourists randomly stopping in the middle of the sidewalk while we're running late drives us nuts.) Either way, it's a cool time of year.

Think you've seen it all, done it all holiday-wise in NY? Think again. There's more to check out than the Rockettes, Wolman Rink and Saks:

If you're a train fanatic or just want to take a step back in time, the MTA is holding a "Nostalgia Holiday Train" special holiday event on the V line. Each Sunday in December riders can hop on the V and possibly catch a ride in a vintage subway car dating back anywhere from the 1930s to the 1970s. Cars will be on the track randomly between 10 am and 5 pm, and are fully authentic inside, meaning all the ads and seats and interiors are exactly how they were. Grab your favorite old-time New Yorker and take them on a $2 holiday trip.

Do you feel an insane amount of pressure to get the Christmas carving done right? Don't screw up when your mom hands you a perfectly done bird and you have zero idea how to carve it. Head to the holiday Knife Skills Class at Camaje, a cute little Village bistro, that will whip you and your skills into place. The class, on Dec 18th ($65), will break down how to slice, carve, dice and chop the right way.

To see some of the season's most-loved furry friends, head to the Bronx Zoo Reindeer Exhibit, and meet up with New York's official reindeer herd. This year's herd includes three generations of a family: grandma Easter (a return visitor), daughter Emma, and granddaughter Linnae. While waiting for the big night, you might catch them rubbing their antlers on zookeeper-supplied branches, or calling their agents about their appearance schedule. They're in an outdoor paddock on Astor Court and $14 will get you in to see them up close.

[Photo: Bronx Zoo]